The Canadian Government said on Thursday that Trudeau stressed that commitment in a telephone conversation the day before with newly-elected Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley.

In June, at the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Charlevoix, Canada announced an investment of CAN$162 million “to help build strong and resilient coasts and communities, including those in the Caribbean,” the statement said.

“The two leaders discussed the importance of developing innovative solutions to challenges faced by the Caribbean and the importance of building upon the G7engagement with Small Island Developing States,” it said.

“Prime Minister Trudeau recognized the difficult but important steps that Barbados is taking to address debt issues,” added the brief statement.

Last month, Prime Minister Mottley said public debt was as high as 171 per cent of Barbados’ gross domestic product (GDP), adding that corrective economic and fiscal measures were needed to place the country on a sustainable footing.

Last week, Barbadian officials and a team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) held negotiations in the island on a package to help the country out of its economic woes.